Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-08-19
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


ditions for the construction OF trout
ponds, and where the same plans could
be carried QUO with equal success. Per-
haps the best system for economizing
water and space, and which at the same
time is the most con venient for chang
ing the fish pond from one pound to
another. is to build series of four or six
ponds. Make them entirely of wood.
The plan | have adopted is to build them
two abreast, and the others following in
order. Each should be about twenty
feet long, by twelve feet wide, and i've
feet deep. Unmatched hemlock lumber,
All inch or one inch and One-half In
thickness. is suitable for the purpose.
The ground is measured and staked oil
i'm the desired dimensions. The excava-
ton is made as if for one pond, and
stakes are driven at regular intervals,
few feet apart, around the entire exca-
walton. If the bottom is made is of lum-
ber-which is necessary if the ground is
pOrOus-lDaJ sUOuIu bV iaiu hiSVS SN""'
ling should run across the bottom aud
be attached to the stakes around the
sides OF the pond, upon which to lay the
bottom. If the bottom is made of lum-
Der, the pond can be kept cleaner and
the water is always clear. After the
bottom is laid, the sides should be enclos-
ed with planks running lengthwise, and
not straight up and down, for the reason
that the wood between "windand water"
is always the first to decay. By placing
the planks lengthwise, new ones can be
substituted with but little expense,
whereas il the boards are in aperpendic-
ular position, it would necessitate an
entire change of lumber.
\ double partition extends through
the center of the excavation; the space
between the sides should be about two
feet in width and filled in with earth.
This strengthens the sides OF the ponds
and also affords walk between them.
The two sides are then partitioned OIL
into compartments Of equal sizes. The
ponds or. each side of the central division
should have openings of about three feet
i'm width between them, into when
screens should be introduced so as to
keen the fish separate and yet allow the
water to flow through. The screens
should be so arranged that they can be
readily removed, when it becomes deslr-
able to give the fish the range of two or
more ponds America AgricuHWist.
WHEN TO PICK FRUu.-When fruits
are mature, they make preparation Tor
falling, lust as mature leaves do. a
distinc; line is formed upon the stem OF
the fruit, in preparation. When the
apple or pear is mature, it will separate
from the tree without any pulling; mere
lifting the fruit from its hanging posi-
ton 10 Il horizontal one, will cause the
separation from the tree 20 take place at
once. A little observation will teach
when the fruit is 10 be gathered. At this
time, the fruit having made its growth,
derives nothing more from the tree.
After the fruit is full-grown, its next
step is towards Cecay. Decay in early
kinds comes in Il few days or weeks. In
the late sorts it requires several months,
but whether early or late, there is
stage in this progress from maturity to
decay, when the fruit best suits our
purpose, and we say that is "ripe,' OF
"mellOw," or cheating" This time in
early kinds comes very quickly, aud
other varieties do not assume it before
spring. Early kinds come ''intO eating
condition" so soon, that they will bear
but little transportation, hence are suited
only to near markets. But these vary
greatly, and there are from very early
and autumn ripening kinds, to the very
latest. The fruit-grower should be
careful observer of these points. The
best fruit may be spoiled or materially
deprecated in value by careless picking
and handling. Properly constructed
cold storage houses will do much to-
wards keeping fruit in good condition,
but unless the fruit is picked at the
right time, it cannot be kept probably
even i'm the best fruit house.
HINTS ABOUT HoRsEs.-Unless the
farm is very stony and the roads rough,
steep and hard, take off the shoes at this
season and let the hoOf get some natural
growth, says farmer in the New York
Tribune. 1t is waste Of time and money
to shoe a plow-team or farm team in the
summer. Ill-fitting collars are the bane
of farm.teams; they divert the line of
draft and bruise the shoulders; they set
loosely and chafe the neck. Too often
the collars are too long. In this case
one of the zinc collar pads will shorten
the collar and prevent bruisng the neck.
Muddy legs irritate the skin and produce
the pustular Inflammation known as
grease. This is more easily prevented
than cured. Wash the legs and rub
them dry whenever the horses come in
wet and muddy. Glycerine is the best
emolient for the skin, but more because
is easily procured. Crude petroleum
is antiseptic, emolient and healing, and
thus prevents poisoning of the skin,
softens it and prevents heating and in
flammation and cures when want of care
produces this too common results. Erie
ton with a wooden rubber either dry or
wet as the case may be, is excellent for |
the skin, and fifteen minutes spent every
day in rubbing down horse will be
well employed. For all kinds of YER
min rub the hair, not skin, with brush |